Chapter 29 - Truth Be Told

It had been a good spring. The weather had been exceptionally good on the great planes and their daily pace was practically double what they had guessed it would be. They found plenty of food along the journey and the strength of the herd returned with time.

They hadn't encountered a single master since the night Rowena rejoined them. Alec theorized that with their lack of night vision and relative slowness on an open field they either gave up or were many days behind.

Shaniddia and Paul were inseparable. Whatever happened to cause the curse to lift was still a mystery. Even Alec was at a loss to explain it. Nobody seemed to care, especially Shaniddia. She even swore she’d kiss Gabriel if he was responsible for breaking it. Noliea swore to keep her to her promise if that was true.

Noliea still kept the small red devices Gabriel gave her even though it seemed less likely with each passing day he was going to return. She often wondered why he had helped them at all. Melinda offered one reason several days ago when the two of them were bathing...

“You never figured that out?” Melinda asked, amazed.

“Why? Did you ask him?”

“I never needed to,” she replied, “I thought it was obvious.”

There were a few moments of silence as Melinda watched Noliea fidget.

“Well?” Noliea finally blurted.

Melinda smiled. “Tell me this first; Have you ever seen the way Paul looks at Shaniddia whenever they’re separated?”

“Separated?” exclaimed Noliea, “You couldn’t get those two apart if the-”

“I’m serious,” Melinda interrupted, “Think about how he looks at her when she brightens someone, or when they’re gathering food.”

“Well that’s obvious,” Noliea said, “But what did you expect? She’s always been beautiful. And she knows he loves her for who she really is and not because of her beauty or status.”

Melinda remained silent to see if Noliea understood where the conversation was going. And for a while Noliea seemed oblivious to Melinda insinuation. But suddenly Noliea’s head snapped around and looked squarely at the elder mare. Melinda was shocked to see a look of anger on her friends face.

“Don’t even think that,” Noliea scowled.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Melinda said meekly. She had obviously hit a nerve.

Why had that struck a nerve in her? And why was it still bothering her now? He was a murdering savage; a single creature who could kill with more malice than all the masters that ever existed. She witnessed him slaughter six of them, and saw the bodies of countless more. Yet he fought thousands of death worms to save Paul, someone he had never met. And why had calling him ‘master’ upset him so much? Melinda may have been right; maybe she had noticed the way he looked at her, but it only raised more questions than answers.

<You never did like a mystery.>

‘I never like it when someone taunts me with the answers to my questions.’

<If you always relied on me for the answers you would never have learned independence.>

‘This time I’m not some stubborn girl running away from home.’

<True. The young girl that left Lendoren returns home a bit older, and wiser.>

‘I feel so tired. No matter what I do I always feel so drained.’

<Now you know why it’s called the ‘weight’ of responsibility.>

‘Mother never felt like this.’

<She has felt it exactly as you do. When you two meet again you will see it in each other and understand. Both of you are strong and have endured much beyond anything I would have ever asked of you.>

Noliea was silent in her thoughts for a moment.

‘Why have such horrible things befallen us?’

<Because I was arrogant enough to believe my own creations would never rise up against me.>

‘I don’t understand.’

<Let me show you the past.>

Noliea found herself standing in a stone structure. Somehow she knew she was in one of the master’s castles back on their world. Standing in front of her was a large master and Kennek the mage.

“If what you say is true, creature, then you will have your army. But I must have proof,” said the Klidz

Noliea knew the master’s words were being translated.

“Look in the mirror,” Kennek replied, handing him an oval piece of silver.

The master examined his reflection in the mirror with shock. “I am young again!” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” said Kennek, “And I can keep you at that age until the end of time itself. If...”

“There will be no room for doubt, lord Kennek,” the master replied, “You will have an army more powerful than you ever imagined.”

“Excellent, King Derit,” Kennek grinned, “Excellent.”

<Kennek breached the world gates and entered the world of the Klidz; a race of insect people both cruel and merciless. He tempted their leader with immortality in exchange for their servitude.>

‘What could he want from the masters?’

The scene changed. She was standing in an underground cavern. Surrounding her were the remains of thousands of bodies.

<Kennek was literally going to eradicate our people. Once he possessed my essence and made himself a god, he was going to rebuild the world the way he envisioned it should be. He would collect the souls of those who died and remake them into his fashion of a better race.>

‘Why didn’t you stop him?’

Again the scene changed. They were in a field that was charred and blackened. Kennek lay on the ground before her; his face and hands badly burned. Next to him lay a small crystal box with the Blessed Goddess trapped inside.

<His trap was simple, but effective. If I used magic in any way the box would drain the energy from me. All he had to do was wait. The container was also a powerful explosive. Even if I managed to escape the box contained enough magical energy to destroy the entire world.>

‘Can you stop him?’

She stood on a large field just outside of Lendoren. Her mother was there, as was Shalynnda, Shahira, and Gabriel. Kennek was flailing about wildly.

“When you use magic,” shouted Gabriel to Lenora, “do you always have to say words to make it work?”

“Yes,” answered her mother.

Gabriel looked at Kennek with an evil grin, “Perfect.”

There was a blinding flash of blue-white light, accompanied by a loud rustling sound. Kennek simply vanished and Gabriel fell to the ground unconscious.

<Gabriel discovered that Kennek was killing our people and stopped him by sending him to a place where he will never be able to return. I warned Kennek that if he did not stop his quest for godhood, he would spend the rest of eternity completely alone.>

‘So Kennek is gone? Did the mages free you from the box?’

The scene changed into the interior of another castle. She was standing next to Gabriel, who was lying on his back on the floor. In front of her was a master carrying the crystal box with the Blessed Goddess still inside. Large cracks were forming on the walls of the box; and she knew that the box would explode at any moment.

“Yes!” said the master holding the crystal box in a claw, “As my god Kennek commands: The end of all life!”

The box made a creaking noise and several cracks appeared in the other walls.

“Gabriel get out of here!” yelled the Goddess, “Hurry!”

“You’re too late!” yelled the master, “We all die now!”

Again, there was a brilliant flash of light accompanied with the strange rush of air. The master, along with the crystal box simply vanished. Standing in the hall was the Blessed Goddess. She reached over and picked up the unconscious two-legged man and cradled him in her arms.

“Thank you Gabriel,” she said softly as she kissed him on the forehead, “Thank you for saving my world.”

There was a final flash of light and Gabriel disappeared from her arms.

“Noliea,” said Shaniddia, shaking her arm.

Noliea startled at the healers touch. She was standing alone with Shaniddia; the rest of the herd was racing ahead of them.

“You were dream walking,” Shaniddia said, a huge smile on her face, “Come on! We’re almost home!”

Noliea was shocked to find herself at the edge of the forest just outside of Lendoren. She could see the castle in the center of the city, and could already smell horrun bread baking.

“What’s wrong?” asked Shaniddia, “You look confused.”

“I’m not sure,” Noliea replied, "Come on. Let's catch up to the rest of the herd."

By the time Noliea and her friend entered through the welcoming center, several hundred people had gathered as the word of their arrival spread. They were given fresh clothes to wear and more food than they had seen in years. Even Rowena, who had voiced her concerns about coming to Lendoren received a welcome she wouldn’t have expected even from her own herd.

The Blessed Goddess arrived, and was nearly toppled by Henna’s enthusiastic hug. But before anyone else could greet her, she held up her hand for silence.

“Before you enter the city there is something you need to know. While I was imprisoned, anyone who perished during that time was not embraced by me in the great hall. Their spirit either roamed freely across the land or became ensnared in one of Kennek’s many soul traps. Once I was freed I gave each person a choice: I would either embrace them and welcome them into the great hall, or I would rebuild their physical form and let them continue to live in this world. Those you see around you chose to continue with their lives here. But there were some who joined me in the great hall and I hope you will respect their decisions.”

“You mean,” asked Henna, looking at the people around her, “That everyone here was once...dead?”

The man standing next to her nodded his head. “The Goddess asked us not to say anything until she had a chance to explain it to you.”

The young mare felt the same wave of fear sweep over her she experienced the first time she met Shaniddia. She found herself pressing against the Goddess’s flank.

“Henna,” the Goddess soothed, “There is nothing to fear. Just think of it as one big brightening. Remember; you yourself once experienced death.”

“I... I’m sorry,” she said to the man.

“I understand,” he said, “It took me a few days to adjust; especially when you meet someone who’s special to you.”

“At least that’s something I don’t have to worry about here,” Paul whispered to Shaniddia.

Noliea saw the glint in the Goddess’s eye. Both she and her mother inherited that same look. She knew Paul just said something he was about to regret.

“I think you’re mistaken Paul,” said someone behind the group.

Even as he turned to look, the Goddess stepped forward and pulled Shaniddia away from the giant man. It wasn’t a moment too soon as Paul recognized who was addressing him and promptly fainted.

“By the Goddess,” Alec swore, not even realizing the Goddess herself was standing next to him.

“Mind your tongue,” the Goddess said smiling.

“Yes Goddess,” he said absently without taking his eyes off the person. He didn’t even realize he was being spoken to.

It was Serena who finally said something even remotely coherent. “Endia?”

The dark skinned mare flashed her large, bright smile, “It’s good to see my herd again.”

The shock wore off and Endia was showered with affection. Shaniddia brightened Paul, but the moment he woke he practically became hysterical.

“I’m sorry!” he cried as he hugged Endia so tightly she couldn’t breathe, “I’m so sorry I didn’t save you!”

“Paul!” Endia wheezed, “Paul, I can’t... breathe...”

The giant man collapsed in front of the woman he watched die and sobbed.

“There was nothing you could have done differently,” she whispered to him. Even on his stomach he was nearly as tall as her. “I was with you when they whipped you. I stood beside you when they lashed you to the poles. And I was there when you left the city of the masters.”

She looked over at Rowena, “And I was there when you sacrificed yourself for the herd.”

“Goddess?” asked Henna, “Where is my family?”

“Do you think you’re ready?” asked the Goddess.

Henna nodded. And when the Goddess looked at the others, they too nodded.

“They said they’re ready!” shouted the Goddess, and a stampede of centaurs flooded the welcoming center.

“Mother! Father!” shouted Henna, literally leaping over the man she had spoken with moments before.

“Hennatha!” they shouted back, wrapping their daughter in a double hug.

The center soon became a tangled mass of family reunions. Ian heard his sister calling him outside the center (it was too crowded to fit another person inside) and he managed to work his way out to greet his family. Alec, who hadn’t had immediate family in over two hundred seasons had only two cousins there to meet him. But Rowena clung to his side, giving him an occasional hug. All thirty one members of Linda’s family turned out to welcome her back, and Melinda’s fathers, mothers, and three brothers were there as well.

Noliea was actually worried about seeing her parents again. But the moment she spotted her mother across the room all worry faded. The look in her eyes confirmed what the Goddess had told her; both she and her mother had been through the same thing. Stepping through the mass of people as quickly as she could, she finally made it to them and embraced them both.

“Welcome home, Noliea,” her father said, “Welcome home.”

Shaniddia stayed with Paul while Endia finally convinced him everything had turned out for the best.

“Shinny?”

She hated that name, and swore seasons ago if she ever returned to Lendoren she would pummel her brother for giving it to her. But the short gangly brother she left was nowhere in sight. In his place stood a strong young stallion with the same platinum blond hair and honey-colored coat. And for a moment she mistook him for her father.

“Eric?” she stammered, not believing how much her older brother had grown.

“Hello again little sister,” he smiled.

She was speechless. She had fought with her brother for seasons on end, and yet now all she wanted to do was tell him how happy she was to see him again.

“Somehow I don’t think she planned for you to have grown so much,” said Paul, amused his beloved couldn’t speak, “She threatened to take you out into the forest and leave you to be raised by fruitpickers.”

“Oh?” said Eric, feigning mock shock, “Is that what she said?”

“She also said that <oof!>,” Paul was cut off my Shaniddia’s jab to the ribs.

“Where is everyone?” she asked before either of them could say anything else.

“They’re over there,” Eric pointed, “Shalynnda sent me in here to pry you away from Paul for a few minutes.”

“I can’t see them,” she said, trying to see over the sea of people.

“I can,” said Paul, “They’re a short way up the road. Come on.”

But as Paul got to his hooves, Eric stopped him. “Shaniddia, you go on ahead. I want to talk to your big friend here for a bit. You know, guy things.”

“If you tell him anything,” she began, but stopped when she heard Shalynnda calling to her. “I’ll be right back,” she said to Paul, and began to work her way through the crowd.

Paul started to ask Eric what he wanted to talk to him about but he noticed that the smile on Eric’s face was gone.

“She’s going to need some time alone with her mother,” the young stallion said, “Just give her a short while then go to her.”

Shaniddia anxiously worked her way through the mass of people until she was clear of the center. The crowd was thinner on the road, and in the distance she could see her mother and sister waiting for her. She sprinted the last few yards and fell into her mother’s waiting arms.

“My beloved daughter,” Shalynnda wept as she clung to her child, “Bless the Goddess your home!”

For a long time the two said nothing as they held each other. Finally Shaniddia wiped the tears from her face and turned to her twin sister. But Shahira simply stood quietly next to her mother; her expression neither happy nor sad.

“Shahira?” inquired Shaniddia.

“She hasn’t spoken since Gabriel brought her back to me,” said Shalynnda somberly.

“So Gabriel was in Lendoren?” asked Shaniddia, brushing the hair out of her sister’s face. Shahira didn’t seem to notice.

“Yes. He rescued her from one of the worm pits. The Goddess said she will talk again given time.”

Shaniddia realized that two people were absent. “Where are father and Tara?”

“Leave it,” said Noliea sternly to the fruitpicker.

The small arachnid, no longer than her arm, stopped dragging the bar of woodstone soap away from her bath; although it continued to nibble on it.

Noliea was torn between staying in the luxuriously warm bathwater or getting out and rejoining her family and friends. Her parents insisted she take as long as she liked in the bathhouse; but as relaxing as the milky waters felt, her mind was still troubled.

The Goddess assured her that every last master, or Klidz as they were called, had been sent back to their home world along with the throngs of death worms they brought with them. The world gates had been deactivated and her grandfather moved them up into the mountains behind the city.

Shaniddia was devastated with the news that both her father and Tara had chosen to embrace the Goddess. She and Paul had stowed away in her parent’s house to grieve, and Shalynnda, Shahira, and Eric had given them their time to be alone.

Something had happened to Shahira. She hadn’t spoken a word to anyone. At times she seemed so far away, like she was dream walking; and yet still totally aware of what was going on around her. Shalynnda said she had been through something so terrible her mind couldn’t accept what had happened. But the Goddess assured everyone that given time and understanding she too would return to her normal self.

Even the Goddess herself seemed out of sorts these past few days. Her demeanor wasn’t as relaxed as she always had been.

“Anybody in there?” came a male voice from outside.

“Women’s bath,” she called out.

“Is Shahira in there?” the voice asked.

“Only me.”

Whoever it was continued past the entryway. Noliea lifted her hand out of the water and looked at the wrinkles on her fingertips.

“Time for me to get out,” she said aloud as she backed out of the sunken tub and grabbed a towel. The cool fall air felt good as a draft drifted through the room. That’s when she felt another sensations creep up on her; the feeling of being watched.

“Shaniddia!” she gasped as she saw her friend standing in the corner. But the look on her face told her she was mistaken.

“Shahira?” she asked, looking at her closely, “Are you alright? Someone was looking for you a moment ago.”

Shahira nodded slightly and walked up to her. She held up her hand and a blue aura began to form around it.

“Shahira I don’t need a brightening,” she said. But Shahira didn’t seem to hear. The aura crept up her arm and flowed over her torso and down her back. The interior of the bathhouse lit up in hues of blue and white.

When Paul looked over at the still huddled insect, I leapt straight over the massive centaur and landed on the opposite side of the barn. The dozen or so centaurs gathered there scattered to the opposite side. The only two that remained was the dead centauress, and the zombie centaur kneeling next to her.

I was relatively sure the centauress was dead. It had taken a whipping that had literally ripped its upper back completely off. Now however I can see her breathing, and her back has significantly less damage than I first thought. The zombie is sitting there motionless; its hollow sockets looking back at me. I know she is going to kill the girl.

“She is our healer,” one of the centaurs says in perfect English, “Please let her help the child.”

A centauress walked slowly up towards me. In her hand she is carrying a large gold coin attached to a long chain. Paul comes up directly beside her. The rain has made the room so dark it’s impossible to see their features.

I know that voice. I don’t know where I’ve heard it before but I know that voice. Can I believe her? Will she try and kill her anyway?

“If the zombie harms the girl in any way I will rip it in half with my bare hands.”

The centauress holding the medallion hesitates, then turns to the zombie and nods. The zombie turns its attention away from me and back to the injured centauress. Placing its rotted hands on the others equine back, it pauses for a moment, then its hands began to glow. The glow quickly brightens in size and intensity; spreading up the zombie’s arms and covering the injured centauress. The entire barn is lit by the eerie blue radiance. The light flares like an arc welder, the intensity is so harsh it’s impossible to stare directly into the stall. I have to look away from the light; and when I do, I look directly into the eyes of the centauress holding the medallion.

The unexpected tidal wave of emotions hit Noliea with such force, her knees buckled and she crumpled onto the bathhouse floor. She had seen her own self through Gabriel’s eyes, but what she felt in that exact moment was infinitely more than she could comprehend. How could he have such feelings for her? Why did he feel like he had known her for so long? She looked up at Shahira who was still glowing like a blue inferno.

“Why?” she wheezed, noticing her own shortness of breath.

I turn around to make sure all twenty-three centaurs were still with me. The zombie and the centauress who had the medallion were leading, with Paul and another male centaur taking the last positions. The two centaurs in front hesitate when I turn around, and the entire procession instantly halts.

“Come on,” I say, trying to keep the group moving, “We can’t stop.”

The two start forward again, and the others follow suit. As I walk backwards I can’t help but look at the woman next to the zombie.

Her hair is black, and the rain is matting it to her shoulders and back. She, like all the others, is wearing a simple gray poncho around her upper torso. Her cheeks are sunken, and her arms are thin. Her lower chest displays all her ribs. But those eyes haven’t changed. I know those eyes, that face, I know who this woman is.

I spin around and trudge forward through the red mud. The anger had crept up on me this time, and I find that my left hand is cut by a sharp edge on the medallion because I gripped it too tight. I put the medallion around my neck.

Someone asks me something, but I miss it. Looking over my shoulder, I see that the woman is walking ahead of the group, and is now just slightly behind me.

“I asked, ‘What is your name?’”

“Gabriel,” I answer, choking back the anger and frustration, “My name is Gabriel.”

She nods, and we continue walking for a few more seconds.

“What is yours?” I ask.

“Noliea.”

Like a final piece to the puzzle, her name solves the entire picture in a single word. This is the woman who has always been in the far corners of my mind since I was barely a man; the ultimate concept of perfection. She is the woman I saw when Tracy forced my concept of absolute happiness up to the surface of my mind. And now, here she is, standing next to me in the pouring rain. Filthy... drenched... in bonds... practically starving to death... and a centaur??

The epiphany of the nightmare suddenly became clear: Find the ultimate expression of beauty and love from the deepest corner of my mind, change her so there’s no chance of ever fulfilling that love, then slowly kill her in the nightmare of my own creation.

Noliea was thankful she was already on the floor. She was shaking uncontrollably from the second rush of emotions she experienced.

“I don’t understand,” she said to Shahira, “If he felt that way about me, then why was he always so angry?”

“Master Gabriel, where are you taking us?” said a female voice.

I was fairly sure it was Shaniddia who asked but I’m not certain. And it wasn’t a sarcastic question, but it hurt all the same.

I turn around and face the twenty-three centaurs behind me. The rain had subsided only to the point where I can see Paul in the back of the group. Like well-trained children, they halt the moment I do. I notice they are walking in pairs, and in the exact same place in line they had been since leaving the barn. Only a single male is standing in line alone. They bow their heads to avoid eye contact.

“Shaniddia,” I say. The centauress jumps when I mention her name.

“I was the one who asked the question,” says Noliea. I can tell by the tone in her voice she thinks I’m going to hurt the zombie.

“Shaniddia, would you go tell Paul to come here please?”

I try not to sound like I’m angry, but in truth I’m furious. These beautiful, wonderful people have been beaten into slaves; and they’re all terrified of me. How can I tell her I love her when she thinks I’m going to kill her at any moment?

Without looking up, Shaniddia turns and heads to the back of the line.

I step towards Noliea, and she reflexively crosses her arms around her waist. Her long black hair is hiding her face completely, her legs are set close together, and her tail is pressed close to her body as she tries to make herself as small as possible. She is shaking uncontrollably, and I can hear her crying. In a whisper she calls me “Master.”

I honestly want to die. I want to scream and rant and go back to the city and slaughter every last one of the insect people in some unspeakably horrible way. I want to hold this woman in my arms and tell her I would do anything she asked of me. I want to tell her how incredibly beautiful she is. And she is only an arms length away! But why am I doing this to myself? She can’t possibly be real. She’s absolutely perfect; a vision from the depths of my dreams. And here I am covered in blood and filth like some monster. This dream-vision is killing me. I have to get out of here. I have to leave before I truly start to believe she exists. Somehow I know if I ever saw this woman die, I won't be able to fight the dream-vision. The only thing I can think of to do is look at her one last time.

“Noliea,” I say to her as gently as I can, “look at me.”

Noliea slowly raises her head and brushes her hair aside. She raised her eyes only to my chest.

“No, look at me.”

She raises her head a bit further, and our eyes meet.

“Stop it!” she sobbed, burying her face in her hands. The blue aura surrounding Shahira vanished.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Noliea yelled at the healer. Shahira stepped back in shock. Her expression changed from surprise, to confusion, then to hurt. She bolted out of the bathhouse.

For the longest time Noliea simply lay on the floor of the bathhouse trying to regain her composure and come to grips with what happened.

“Noliea?”

She looked up to find Shalynnda kneeling in front of her. She hadn’t heard the priestess come in.

“Are you okay? I saw Shahira run out of here and thought I heard you crying.”

Noliea nodded, and reaching up pulled her serape off the hook on the wall and put it on. “Did you know she brightened Gabriel?”

“Yes,” Shalynnda replied, “She brightened him just after Kennek was banished. How did you know that?”

“She showed me,” Noliea replied, “It was like a brightening, but in reverse. She showed me what memories she had from Gabriel.”

Shalynnda looked shocked, “She did? She must still have the essence of the Goddess in her.”

“Essence of the Goddess?” asked Noliea.

“When Kennek trapped the Goddess in the crystal box, there was a vial attached to it that collected any magic the Goddess performed. Gabriel managed to get the box away from Kennek, and it landed next to Shahira. I’m still not sure why, but she drank the collected essence before Kennek could get it back.”

“What has the Goddess said about it?” asked Noliea, amazed.

“She only assured me she will be okay in time, but nothing more.”

Noliea got to her hooves. “Let’s go see my grandmother,” she said, her voice still shaky, “I need some answers.”

The Goddess sighed, and nuzzled her head against Shirhon’s neck.

“Such a heavy sigh,” he said, running his fingers through her golden blond mane.

“It was close,” she said not lifting her head off his shoulder, “very close.”

“For us mortals,” he teased, “how close is ‘close’.”

She gently ran her nails across his ribs just behind his arms, and felt his body tense at the sensation, “You wouldn’t have been able to say your own name three times before it exploded.”

She felt her mate shiver; and not because of her tickling. “That’s too close,” the stallion said, “We need to work on your timing.”

“You know, if Gabriel hadn’t come back to free me we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“How did you know he would return?” Shirhon asked as he kissed her on the neck.

“I didn’t,” the Goddess replied, enjoying the touch, “Once the barrier on the world gates was down I thought I would never see him again.”

Shirhon looked down at his mate, “Then why did he come back?”

The Goddess looked up at him and gently kissed his lips. She then pulled away and picked up their clothes off the floor. “I think we had better get dressed. We’re about to have company; and the answer to your question.”

Shirhon sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for company, and this had been the first time the two of them had had a moment to themselves since their reunion.

“That’s what happens when you have children,” she said, knowing what he was thinking, “or should I say, grandchildren.”

As if on queue, Noliea came bursting into the house. Shalynnda wasn’t about to take such liberties with her own Goddess, and stopped in the reception area of their home.

“Come on in Shalynnda,” the Goddess called, “I don’t want you to miss this.”

The look on Noliea’s face told her grandfather this was going to be one of her better outbursts.

“Has it ever bothered you that I took a mate?” asked the Goddess.

The question stopped Noliea in her tracks. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” she fumed.

“You’ve never wondered why I gave birth to your mother? It never crossed your mind to ask why I didn’t just snap my fingers and create a child of my own?”

Noliea looked stonewalled. “Does this have anything to do with why I came here?”

“Of course it does,” the Goddess said calmly, “Do you think I would say something just to hear myself talk?”

If the Goddess was even remotely trying to calm her granddaughter, it wasn’t working. Noliea looked like she was about to explode.

“Of course not,” Noliea said through clenched teeth, “In fact, the reason I’m here at all is because I respect your wisdom. Things have happened today only you would understand. Things which involve both me and my herd.”

The Goddess looked at Noliea, then down at the floor of her home. “I took your grandfather as a mate simply because I fell in love with him. And I know with all my being he loves me the same way.”

Noliea was about to say something, but the Goddess put her finger to her lips. “Noliea, do you realize I am both standing before you in this physical body as well as existing in the great hall?”

Noliea looked confused as she shook her head no.

“I am much more than just this physical being. I am an entity that can exist in many places at the same time. My power over this world is absolute; I can alter reality in any way I see fit.”

She looked up at her granddaughter, “I don’t need to physically be here to rule this world. I could simply force my will upon you from the great hall. Everyone in the entire world would joyously follow my every whim.”

The look on Noliea’s face couldn’t mask the fear in her eyes.

“Does that though scare you child?”

“Yes,” she said, averting eye contact.

“Good,” the Goddess said, reaching up and gently turning her head to see her expression, “Because it terrifies me too.”

“Then why are you telling me these things?”

“Because that is what Kennek was going to do. He was going to turn all of you into his willing slaves. You would have lost any freedom of choice. If he wanted you to fall in love with him you would have been hopelessly smitten. If he wanted you to run until you fell to the ground dead then that is what you would have done. You would have been told when to eat, what to say, what to think. And you would know nothing better.”

The Goddess paused to let the weight of what she had said sink in.

“Just before Kennek trapped me, your father and grandfather discovered his plan. Kennek had to use the magic he drained from the mages to fix the trap. But his trap had a slight defect; it was attuned to the world gates as part of the magical shielding.”

She gave her mate a glance. “And one of the world gates had a flaw.”

“That wasn’t a flaw,” Shirhon protested, “it’s a... feature.”

“It was a crack,” the Goddess said, “A crack that allowed me to begin extending my presence beyond the confines of the box in a very limited way. It was strenuous at best. But what I discovered was amazing; a world populated by people who looked incredably like us. They call themselves ‘humans’.”

“Humans!?” blurted Shirhon, “That was the species on Ge!”

“Yes,” the Goddess agreed, “But the era I found was over five thousand seasons of summer later than the era you were trapped in. Humans had become highly evolved in their savagery, but they had also formed groups of people who fought to make their world a better place. And of those elite people whose cause was to bring peace to their world, I found something I never would have expected.”

“What?” asked Noliea.

“A young man named Gabriel. He had recently been injured saving the life of one of his friends. Because they have no healers in his world and his injuries were severe they contacted someone with telepathic abilities who could help him.”

“What happened?” asked Noliea.

“The telepathic child wasn’t strong enough to completely revive him and he awoke thinking he was still in a horrible dream-vision. In desperation the child pulled the most perfect woman Gabriel could imagine from the deepest part of his mind hoping the shock would awaken him.”

All the color drained from Noliea’s face. “Me.”

The Goddess nodded. “Since Gabriel can travel between dimensions without a world gate, I guided him to our world the next time he teleported.”

“But... how did he find me?” she asked.

“Like I said, there was a flaw in Kennek’s trap. At the expense of giving Kennek a portion of my essence I managed to guide Gabriel to several key places where he would be able to save me.”

“You?” asked Noliea.

“I know it sounds selfish sweetheart, but yes. If I couldn’t stop Kennek and free myself from his prison then the world would be lost.”

Noliea saw the logic in the goddesses thinking. If she had died and Gabriel had still freed the Goddess then she would have been resurrected.

“Where is Gabriel now?” asked Shalynnda.

Nobody said a word. Shalynnda blushed with embarrassment assuming she had butted in on a family discussion.

“He’s gone,” said Noliea, looking at the Goddess, “I saw you send him home.”

“It was for the best,” the Goddess replied.

“The best?” asked Noliea, “The best for who?”

“Noliea, I had to. You of all people know what he is capable of.”

Noliea wanted to object, but she knew the Goddess was right. She would never forget seeing Gabriel kill those masters, nor the fields outside the city red with the blood from thousands of flesh worms. And even though she knew he truly loved her, he wasn’t even her own kind. It would only be nothing more than a hopeless fantasy.

“You’re right,” she whispered, wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, “I guess it’s for the best.”

“No,” said Shalynnda, giving the Goddess a look of sheer defiance, “No it’s not.”

“I presume my own priestess has good reasoning to defy her creator,” the Goddess said, giving her the same look.

“I do,” she said, stepping forward, “You asked Noliea why you took a mate, and then told her it was because you fell in love with Shirhon. Then you told her you are much more than just a physical form that appears before us. And while I have known this for many seasons, she did not.”

Noliea looked at Shalynnda in surprise, “You knew that?”

The priestess nodded, “The Blessed Goddess uses a physical body to communicate with us in ways we can comprehend.”

Noliea looked dumbfounded.

Shalynnda could see she had confused her. “The reason she told you this was to show you the relationship between her and your grandfather. They are literally different beings and yet their love for each other overcomes those differences.”

“That and she’s a great kisser,” said Shirhon.

The look he got from Noliea told him his humor was unappreciated. She was obviously frustrated.

“I don’t understand,” she said, “You’re telling me two different beings can be in love, but you’re also telling me it’s best to keep him away. That makes no sense.”

“Shirhon, Shalynnda, I need to speak to my granddaughter alone for a moment.”

The two nodded and left the house.

The Goddess stepped forward and held Noliea’s hands in hers. “I’m sorry this is so frustrating. So for just this once, I’ll be perfectly straight with you. Not because I’m your grandmother, but because I’m your Goddess.”

Noliea looked back at her grandmother. It seemed impossible this woman she had loved and cherished all her life was some all-powerful entity capable of forcing her will upon her people. And yet that’s who she truly was; a living Goddess who took a physical form only to communicate with her people.

“Oh, I do more than just communicate,” she said, knowing her granddaughters thoughts, “I eat, I sleep, I laugh; I relish all the things in life everyone else does. I never created our people simply to have someone to rule over; I created them so they could experience life, and I could share the joy life brings to them. Can you comprehend how utterly alone I would be without my people?”

“It’s all a little... overwhelming,” Noliea said meekly.

“You are ready to know these things,” the Goddess said, “When you came barging in here ready to have yet another contest of wills, and controlled yourself even after I pushed you, that’s when I knew the little girl named Noliea was gone and a woman named Noliea had taken her place.”

Noliea managed to smile. Having herself accepted as a woman was something she had been wanting for most of her life.

“I wouldn’t smile yet, if I were you,” said the Goddess, her own smile disappearing, “This is where I have to put my hoof down.”

The Goddess turned and looked down at her hands, “Noliea, you need to know there are other gods that exist. The world gates are doorways to their relms. And while it is acceptable for mortals to travel between our worlds, I am not allowed to directly interfere with the affairs of their domains.”

She looked up at her granddaughter, “In this world I am able to interfere with the affairs of our people as much as I wish. And I do so every single day. Many gods create their people only to lose interest in them and abandon them to some random fate. Others choose to rule their people indirectly and separate themselves from their creations. But I have chosen to live among my people; to experience life in the same ways they do. You can’t imagine how much joy I felt the day I brought the first of our people to life; but it was nothing compared to how I felt when I first held your mother in my arms.”

Noliea could almost feel the joy coming from her grandmother as she recalled the moment.

“I have created a world where the laws of time, space, and matter can be altered. Where mages can unlock the secrets of the universe, and healers can mend both body and spirit. Where you can travel to any city you wish and be greeted with a warm smile and good company.”

Her expression hardened, “But this world is the exception, not the rule. Many gods create worlds in which only the strongest survive. The old and weak are pushed aside and the strongest take their place. It is a brutal, if not effective existence.”

“Like the masters?” Noliea asked.

“Yes. And like the humans as well. However, humans are very intelligent beings and have discovered that helping the weak become strong makes their species stronger as a whole. But there are still those among them that believe they should destroy anyone weaker than themselves. In those cases Gabriel and others rise up against those who would oppress their own people. And while his intentions are honorable his methods are no less savage than those he opposes.”

She took Noliea’s hands in hers once more, “In order for his people to survive he has had to become as ruthless and as cruel as his enemies are. He has even altered his own body to become a living weapon. The only reason I summoned him to our world was to stop Kennek, and he did with a savagery that stunned even me.”

The Goddess took a deep breath. “I will always be in his dept for what he has done for us. A hundred million seasons of summer from now I will still remember his selfless deeds. But I cannot, and I will not, allow Gabriel back into this world. And that is not something we can argue about.”

Noliea’s mind was reeling. The Goddess had shown her that two separate beings could still find happiness if they truly loved each other, and yet she refused to let Gabriel come to this world. Then it hit her.

“I saw you send him back to his world,” Noliea said hesitantly, “Could you send me there as well?”

“Yes,” she said, averting her granddaughters gaze, “But you must understand me; If I send you there you will be on your own. I cannot influence his world, nor can I travel there myself. Are you willing to make that sacrifice?”

Noliea thought about her herd, her friends, and her parents. How could she possibly leave them? But the wave of emotion she had felt when Gabriel first looked at her welled up. It was more than she could have ever imagined.

“Yes,” she said, surprising herself.

The Goddess sighed. “As you wish.”

She held out her hand and presented Noliea with a medallion and a wand. “Take these with you. The medallion is one of my most powerful creations. It transforms the wearer into the indigenous species they are with. So when you wear it, you will be completely human. You will have two legs and twelve fingers just like all the other humans. You will also be able to speak their language.”

Noliea felt a numbing cold form in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t think she would be spending the rest of her life as a human!

“The wand is a teleporter. If you break it then you will be transported back to this exact spot. But the wand will last for only a single day. If you do not use it before then it will crumble to dust.”

Noliea slowly nodded. The weight of what she was planning to do was just barely beginning to sink in. Her parents were going to be so angry with her!

“Your parents do not have a say in this matter,” the Goddess said, knowing her thoughts, “This is your decision and yours alone.”

The Goddess reached up and kissed her on the cheek, “Remember my child, I will always love you.”

And with that, the Goddess snapped her fingers.